Plunger fed dropper



Jan. 4, 1949. Q L, LUDWlG 2,458,085

' PLUNGER FED DROPPER y Filed Jan. 22, 1944 INVENTOR. CARL L. L U0 w/G BY y C. mm 2nd/@ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED Ns'm'rlzsPATENT oFFlci:

PLUNGER FED DROPPER Carl L. Ludwig, Los Angeles, Calif. i

` Application January 22, 1944, Serial No. 519,289

2 Claims.

This invention relates to measuring and dispensing containers and more especially to dispensers adapted for repeat operation without inverting the container to release the air lock. This application includes subject matter disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 398,874, led June 20, 1941, now Patent No. 2,366,343,

' January 2, 1945.

This invention is adapted for measuring and dispensing liquids, powder or granular material, either in exact or approximately measured quantities.

An object of the invention is to provide a simplified device of the character described, containing few parts, and simple in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for dispensing a pre-determined amount of material by a simple operation.

An additional object is to provide a dispensing container for liquids whereby to dispense small quantities such as a single drop at a time.

A further object is to provide a single drop dispenser for a special use such as a liquid for cleaning eye glasses or spectacles.

An additional object is to provide a drop dispenser for a viscous material.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of my invention for dispensing liquid in drops.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, enlarged, partly in section, of the device of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a modification in part of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the device of Figs. l to 3 in combination with a spectacle case.

Referring more particularly to the drawing I show a device for dispensing liquids drop by drop, comprising a casing ID of anysuitable material such as glass, plastic or the like, having threaded neck I I for attachment to the neck portion I2 of a suitable container for the liquid to be dispensed. A shell I4 is positioned in casing I0 and has a central opening extending from end I5 almost to the other end I 6, which is closed except for a series of holes II which extend through this end near the outer periphery of the large central bore. End I 6 has a reduced portion I8 which tapers to a further reduced portion or teat I9.

The external end of shell I4 is reduced at both ends to receive resilient washers 2|! and 2|, and

(Cl. Z22- 386) 2 the extreme ends of these reduced portions are threaded, as shownat 22 and 23 to receive correspondingly threaded nuts 24 and 25. These nuts keep the washers 20 and 2| under pressure so thatthey ll out any irregularities on the inside of the casing III.

Before shell I4, carrying the washers and nuts, is` placed inside of casing I0, a spring I3 is rst inserted. An end piece 8 having a tapered nozzle portion provided with a dispensing aperture 9, is provided for screw thread attachment to casing III, and is then secured thereto by said threaded attachment. A gasket or washer 29 is positioned between container I2 and neck portion II of casing I0. The pressure of spring I3 expanding between iiange 2B and end I5 of shell I4, forces shell I4 in the direction indicated by the arrow in the central bore, and causes the small end I9 normally to close, dispensing aperture 9 in end piece 8, as shown in Fig. 2.

When the container is inverted, as shown in Figs. l to 3, liquid from the container flows through the central opening in shell I4 and through holes I'I in end I6 into cavity 38 in end piece 8. Washers 20 and 2| prevent liquid from escaping into the space between the outside of shell I4 and the inside of casing I0. The reduced end I8|9 of the shell closes aperture 9 in the tip of end piece 8, and the iiuid is thus retained inside of the device. Casing I0 is provided with an aperture 3|, and shell I4 has a knurled or roughened portion 32 opposite aperture 3| to permit insertion of a finger or the thumb through aperture 3| to move shell I4 up or down. When it is desired to expel a drop of the liquid, shell I4 is moved in a direction opposite to the arrow in the bore thereof, thus causing teat I9 to move out of aperture 9. The fluid then-moves into aperture 9, where it is retained by adhesion, cohesion and the pressure of external air.. Upon the release of shell I4, spring I3 pushes the same downwardly, causing teat I9 to enter aperture I| and expel a drop of liquid therein. This device may be designed for drops of different sizes, varying with the viscosity of the liquid, by changing the dimensions of aperture 9 and teat I9.

In Fig. 3 I show a modication of the structure for the lower end I6 of shell I4. The construction shown in Figs. l and 2 requires that the shell be cast or machined, as by a screw machine. The modified structure permits the use of standard tubing by merely reducing the ends as shown at 34, and threading the extreme end as indicated at 35. For this modification the end por- 55 tion IBa--Ia is made integral with the nut or 3 threaded end member 36, which has the outlet apertures l1.

in assembly, Washer 2| is placed over reduced end 34, and member 36 is then threaded onto shell Illa by means of threads 35 and the corresponding threads in member 36.

In Fig. 4 I show the device of Figs. l and 2 applied to a special use such as in combination with a case for eye glasses or spectacles. In Ythis gure the case i is secured by suitable `'strap fasteners 31 or the equivalent 3l, t0 a case 38. A removable cap or plug |2a is secured to the upper end of casing I0 to permit filling the device with a liquid suitable for cleaning spectacles. rlhe device functions as the devices of Figs. 1 to 3 and is compact and conveniently'available 'for supplying cleaning liquid for spec'taclsas will be apparent.

Having described my invention, what I claim f1. -A' dispenser as-de'scribfed comprising afc'asing fr a quantity 0f iluidvhaving 4a dispensing'ap'ev ture,a tube Within saifdcasing having a teat at one end adjacent said aperture, and means to reciprocate said tube whereby to force ilud from the interior of said casing through said tube and through said dispei'rsi'n'gI aperture,V said means inciuding `an opening in saideasing and a knurled 4 surface on said tube registering with said opening.

2. A dispenser as described comprising a casing for a quantity of fluid having a dispensing aperture, a tube Within said casing having a teat at one end adjacent said aperture, and means t0 reciprocate said tube whereby to force fluid from the interior of said casing through said casing and through said dispensing aperture, said means including 'an opening in said casing and a knurled surface on said tube registering with said opening, there being sealing means between said tube and said casing.

CARL L. LUDWIG.

REFERENCES CITED f "he following-'references are 0f record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number v'llarrie `Date 1,002,995 Johnson sept. 1'2, 1911 1,046,403 `voges Dec. 3, -1912 @pinsel ,shaw June 116, 1925 1,938,219 'Eckerbom Dec. 5, 1933 .2,068,728 Amos Jan. 26,1937 2,212,567 Kirmes Aug. '27, 1940 2,216,530 Honander oct. 1, 1940 

